Cannabis plant in front of US flag

Support Cannabis

Scheduling Reform

Support Cannabis

Scheduling Reform

Why Is Scheduling Reform Important?

Why Is Scheduling Reform Important?

Why Is Scheduling Reform Important?

Gavel, handcuffs, and marijuana buds on white background.
Gavel, handcuffs, and marijuana buds on white background.
Gavel, handcuffs, and marijuana buds on white background.

Cannabis is classified as a schedule I controlled substance under federal law, alongside heroin and above methamphetamine, opium and fentanyl. This means that cannabis is wrongly considered to have no accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse and no accepted safety standards even under medical supervision.

Cannabis is classified as a Schedule I controlled substance under federal law, alongside heroin and above methamphetamine, opium and fentanyl. This means that cannabis is wrongly considered to have no accepted medical use, a high potential for abuse and no accepted safety standards even under medical supervision. As a result, cannabis continues to be harshly criminalized, and state-licensed cannabis businesses operate under extreme regulatory burdens.

The reality is that cannabis has widely accepted medical uses and a low potential for abuse. More than three-quarters of US states have legalized medical cannabis, a majority of doctors recognize a variety of medical uses for cannabis, and more than 50 million Americans use cannabis each year. According to the DEA’s own data, there has not been a single recorded cannabis overdose death.

As a result, cannabis continues to be harshly criminalized, and state-licensed cannabis businesses operate under extreme regulatory burdens.

The reality is that cannabis has widely accepted medical uses and a low potential for abuse. More than three-quarters of US states have legalized medical cannabis, a majority of doctors recognize a variety of medical uses for cannabis, and more than 50 million Americans use medical cannabis each year. According to the DEA’s own data, there has not been a single recorded cannabis overdose death.

President Biden disagrees with this classification and took a historic step last October when he directed his Administration to review the status of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act. The directive kicked off an administrative process involving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).


As the Biden Administration actively reviews the status of cannabis, the Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform (CCSR) is engaging with stakeholders in the Executive Branch to provide critical information and analysis concerning the urgent need for scheduling reform.

President Biden disagrees with this classification and took a historic step last October when he directed his Administration to review the status of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act. The directive kicked off an administrative process involving the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) and Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).


As the Biden Administration actively reviews the status of cannabis, the Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform (CCSR) is engaging with stakeholders in the Executive Branch to provide critical information and analysis concerning the urgent need for scheduling reform.

Why Now?

Why Now?

Why Now?

President Biden, wearing blue suit and tie, with draped American and DC flags behind him on right.
President Biden, wearing blue suit and tie, with draped American and DC flags behind him on right.
President Biden, wearing blue suit and tie, with draped American and DC flags behind him on right.

The Benefits of Scheduling Reform

The Benefits of Scheduling Reform

The Benefits of Scheduling Reform

Metal figure of blindfolded Lady Justice, holding scales and sword.
Metal figure of blindfolded Lady Justice, holding scales and sword.
Metal figure of blindfolded Lady Justice, holding scales and sword.

The process initiated by the Biden Administration should result in the rescheduling or descheduling of cannabis. Descheduling would demonstrate cannabis’ low potential for abuse and represent a dramatic step toward achieving President

Biden’s criminal justice and racial equity goals. Rescheduling cannabis to Schedule III, IV or V would mark historic progress toward ending federal prohibition and present a wide range of advantages over the unacceptable status quo, including:

  • Reducing the scope of potential criminal liability for cannabis-related activity.

  • Encouraging prosecutors and sentencing judges to view cannabis as a lower priority when making charging and sentencing decisions.

Providing federal tax relief from tax penalties associated with the enforcement of Section 280E of the Internal Revenue Code, which are particularly burdensome for social equity and small operators.

Who Supports Scheduling Reform?

Who Supports Scheduling Reform?

Following President Biden's announcement, a growing number of elected leaders have come out in support of scheduling reform. Most recently, six governors and 12 state attorneys general urged the Biden Administration to reschedule cannabis from Schedule I to Schedule III. Leading members of Congress, including Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer, have also urged the Biden Administration to proceed with rescheduling.


Scheduling reform enjoys additional support from a growing list of national organizations representing diverse constituencies. In December, a coalition of veterans and patient advocacy organizations urged the Biden Administration to expedite its administrative review of and reschedule cannabis to Schedule III or lower. In January, the American Nurses Association, which represents five million nurses across the U.S., endorsed rescheduling as “ a positive step toward developing an evidence-based approach for marijuana and related-cannabinoids use in disease and symptom management.”

Scheduling Reform Resources

Scheduling Reform Resources

In June 2023, CCSR released a comprehensive report on the classification of cannabis under the Controlled Substances Act and the urgent need for reform. The report details the advantages of descheduling cannabis or rescheduling it at Schedule III or lower.


In July 2024, CCSR submitted an extensive comment to the Drug Enforcement Administration in support of the Biden Administration's proposal to move cannabis down to Schedule III under the Controlled Substances Act. The document details why cannabis belongs in Schedule III and why treaty issues do not present an obstacle to rescheduling.

Who We Are

Who We Are

Join the Coalition

Join the Coalition

We are actively partnering with a broad range of companies, organizations and elected officials in support of cannabis scheduling reform. If you are interested in learning more, please get in touch with us at info@schedulingreform.org.

Copyright © 2023. Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2023. Coalition for Cannabis Scheduling Reform. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright © 2023. Coalition for Cannabis

Scheduling Reform. All Rights Reserved.